All L.A. Unified Schools Open Today

Schools are back in session today, adhering to the typical daily schedule. Superintendent Ramon C. Cortines issued a statement late yesterday afternoon, declaring schools safe to reopen. Safety of students and staff remain the District's top priority.

All schools are open, and operating on the regular schedule this morning. After-school activities will continue as planned. I want to welcome all students and staff in light of yesterday’s safety threat.

As you know, L. A. Unified always puts student safety first. I want to reassure students, parents, guardians, teachers and other employees that our schools are safe. Crisis counselors are available if students want to talk about the incident. Teachers have been provided lesson plans on how to help youngsters who may feel a little anxious or afraid.

At our high schools, most students are taking final exams as the first semester ends. Friday is the last day of school before the winter break.

Students who attend school on the traditional calendar are scheduled to return to classes on Monday, January 11, 2016, the first day of the second semester, of the 2015-16 school year.

Those who attend school on the multi-track calendar at Bell Senior High School, the District’s last year-round campus, are scheduled to return to classes on Monday, January 4, 2016.

9:40 p.m. - A video from a news conference late this afternoon held at L.A. Unified's headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. School officials spoke about their decision to reopen schools on Wednesday and described in more detail what prompted them to close down campuses. The video was created by KLCS-TV, a PBS station owned by the District.

7:30 p.m. -L.A. Unified today sent a packet of materials to school principals that may help teachers talk to students about today's closure, prompted by a threat. But the information may be helpful for parents when dealing with questions from their children about why there was no school today.

One document describes a set of guildelines known as Psychological First Aid. This evidence-informed approach assists children, adolescents, adults and families in the immediate aftermath of a critical incidient. Written in English and Spanish, the suggested tips can help reduce initial distress caused by traumatic events.

In addition, Superintendent Ramon Cortines described ways to foster dialogue in the classroom that provides them with social and emotional support. He also includes thoughtful questions that prompts them to explore their feelings. These tools also may help parents accomplish the same goals at home.

Today has been a difficult day, with L.A. Unified schools closed for the first time in decades. Thanks to the extraordinary effort by Los Angeles Unified School Police and law-enforcement partners, all L.A. Unified schools and charters have been inspected and Chief Steven Zipperman has given the all-clear. Classes and after-school activities will resume on Wednesday. The District will have crisis counselors available for students and employees who may need additional support.

I decided to close schools, and this choice was not made lightly. It disrupted the lives of our students, our employees and their families. Based on recent events, I took this precaution out of an abundance of caution and to ensure safety and security in our schools.

We now must get back to the business of educating our kids. Our local districts will be supporting school and maintaining consistency. I have asked state Schools Superintendent Tom Torlakson to allow us to count today as an instructional day and reimburse the District for funds we will otherwise lose.

I want to thank our L.A. Unified families for your support and your sacrifice as we worked through a very difficult day. I am also very grateful to my colleagues on the Board of Education and to our principals, plant managers and police officers who played a pivotal role in securing our schools.

In addition, I want to express my appreciation to Superintendent Torlakson and to Mayor Eric Garcetti, the Los Angeles City Council, and to Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck for their unwavering support. We also owe our thanks to the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and to a host of law-enforcement agencies that came to our aid. They are: the Los Angeles Police Department; Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; California Highway Patrol; the Departments of Police Services at the University of California and Cal State-Northridge; and the police departments from Long Beach, San Fernando, Bell, Gardena, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, Inglewood and South Gate.

Finally, this event underscores the need for everyone to remain diligent and serves as a reminder -- if you see something, say something.

2:30 p.m. - Dear Parents/Guardians: The safety of all children in the Los Angeles Unified School District is our number one priority. As you have been informed, all schools in LAUSD were closed today for precautionary reasons in response to threats that are being investigated.

Many parents have requested guidance about how to help their children at home. The attached handout, in English and in Spanish, provides specific strategies for helping children manage stress during difficult times.

For current information regarding today’s events, visit www.lausd.net or call the LAUSD Information Hotline at (213) 241-2064. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

1:30 p.m. - Los Angeles Unified School Police is the lead agency in securing the campuses with help from 13 other agencies. They are the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; California Highway Patrol; the Departments of Police Services at the University of California and Cal State-Northridge; and the police departments from Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Fernando, Bell, Gardena, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, Inglewood and South Gate.

We cannot provide details of the walk-throughs because that could jeopardize the integrity of our operation.

12:50 p.m. - All Beyond the Bell and other after-school activities have been cancelled for today.

In Spanish: Todos los programas después de escuela que son patrocinados por Beyond the Bell fueron cancelados para hoy.12:17 p.m. - All students who were at school this morning have been picked up, and there are no children left at any of our campuses.

Los Angeles Unified School Police is working in active collaboration with personnel from 13 law-enforcement agencies on campus walk-throughs. This means that every administrator will be accompanied by a law-enforcement official in securing the school.

11:30 a.m. - As a result of a safety threat made against Los Angeles Unified schools and in an abundance of caution, Superintendent Ramon C. Cortines has directed that all schools be closed today to ensure the safety of all students and school-site employees.

We are deferring to law enforcement on any questions relating to the threat. The District has no further information or details at this point.

Campus administrators and law enforcement are doing a walk-through of every school, checking for anything suspicious.

LAUSD students can ride Metro buses and trains today for free.

The District has set up an information hotline at 213-241-2064. In addition, half-hour updates will be provided at lausd.net and on KLCS-TV.

8:01 a.m. - The following message from the Los Angeles Unified School District is being sent to all employees. As a result of a threat received, the Superintendent has directed all schools to be closed today to ensure the safety of all students. Further information will be forthcoming via additional Blackboard Connect Messages.

The principals and plant managers will be at school sites. Office personnel in Local Districts should report to their regular work site. Employees that have signed up to Dawn Patrol will report to the schools they have signed up for. All other school employees are to stay home. All non-school personnel will be deployed to school sites. Instructions will be provided by their supervisors. The Beaudry LAUSD Headquarters remain open. Beaudry Building employees are asked to report to their regular work location.

Thank you for your attention to this communication and to your support of our efforts to keep our schools safe and secure.

7:40 a.m.- The following message is being sent to Local District Superintendents, Administrators of Operations and Principals. As a result of a threat received, the Superintendent has directed all schools to be closed today to ensure the safety of all students.

Local District Superintendents and Administrator of Operations should report to their respective locations other than those who are responding to the Emergency Operations Centers.

Principals, Plant Managers and Buildings and Grounds Workers should report to their schools to ensure that students are not allowed to enter the school.

6:50 a.m. - News conference at Beaudry Avenue headquarters.6:32 a.m. - The following message from the Los Angeles Unified School District is being sent to parents and guardians. As a result of a threat received, the Superintendent has directed all schools to be closed today to ensure the safety of all students. Further information will be forthcoming via additional Blackboard Connect Messages.

Again, please be advised that all schools will be closed for students today, Tuesday, December 15, 2015. The safety of students is the District’s number one priority. Thank you for your attention to this communication and to your support of our efforts to keep our schools safe and secure.

Tuesday, Dec. 15, 6:25 a.m. The following message is being sent to Local District Superintendents, Administrators of Operations and Principals. As a result of a threat received, the Superintendent has directed all schools to be closed today to ensure the safety of all students.

Local District Superintendents and Administrator of Operations should report to their respective locations other than those who are responding to the Emergency Operations Centers.

Principals, Plant Managers and Buildings and Grounds Workers should report to their schools to ensure that students are not allowed to enter the school.